DENISON

Denison University Leaf 01

Otto Ege provided the following description for the leaves of this manuscript:

New Testament, with Glosses of Bede, Jerome, and Gregory (Testamentum Novum, cum Glossis Bedae, Hieronymi, et Gregorii ). Switzerland (?), Early 12th Century. Latin Text; Revived Carolingian Script.

The chief interest of this text is the interlinear glosses and commentaries from the writings of Bede, Jerome, Gregory, and other Church Fathers. These were inserted at various times during the following century around a central panel of the original text. All the hands are based on the revival of early carolingian minuscule. The beginning of the trend to compactness and angularity is seen in many of these later additions. This manuscript shows through marks of ownership that it was in Geneva for centuries. It is therefore probable that it was written in Switzerland.

The color and texture of vellum is frequently an aid in allocating a manuscript to a certain district and time. The 12th century skins are often yellower than those of later dates as the result of the fact that a weaker lime-water solution had been used in the bleaching process.

Size: 22 x 15.5 cm

Observations: The primary script is Carolingian, with one of the glosses in a minuscule very similar to that in Leaf 04. The vellum is yellowed, brittle, and cut on all four sides, with some visible follicles. The leaf is lined in either lead or very light ink, and the ink used for the text is brown with some fading. The gloss hands are different from both one another and from the Biblical text, and the Carolingian gloss hand has decorative brackets setting apart each section. Scribal corrections on this leaf include an erasure mark on the last line of the bottom gloss on the recto; on the verso there is a small hole at the end of the first paragraph. Further identifying marks include a smudge on the gloss on the recto side in the bottom right corner and a small number "50" written in ink and a "47" written in pencil, both in the top right corner of the recto. With the exception of the brackets, the leaf is not illuminated or decorated.

Text: John 3:2-6 (recto) and 6-13 (verso). Glosses not yet identified.

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Denison Leaf 01 Recto
Denison Leaf 01 Recto

Denison Leaf 01 Recto

+ Denison Leaf 01 Recto Transcription

[Transcription of the main text in the central column:]

scimus quia a Deo venísti magíster, nemo enim potest hæc signa fácere, quæ tu facis, nisi fúerit Deus cum eo. Respóndit Jesus, et dixit ei: Amen, amen dico tibi, nisi quis renátus fúerit dénuo, non potest vidére regnum Dei. Dicit ad eum Nicodémus: Quómodo potest homo nasci, cum sit senex? numquid potest in ventrem matris suæ iteráto introíre et renásci? Respóndit Jesus: Amen, amen dico tibi, nisi quis renátus fúerit ex aqua, et Spíritu Sancto, non potest introíre in regnum Dei. Quod natum est ex carne, caro est: et quod natum est

+ Denison Leaf 01 Recto Translation

[John 3:2-6]

...we know that thou art come a teacher from God; for no man can do these signs which thou dost, unless God be with him. 3 Jesus answered, and said to him: Amen, amen I say to thee, unless a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4 Nicodemus saith to him: How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter a second time into his mother's womb, and be born again? 5 Jesus answered: Amen, amen I say to thee, unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Ghost, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh, is flesh; and that which is born...


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Denison Leaf 01 Verso
Denison Leaf 01 Verso

Denison Leaf 01 Verso

+ Denison Leaf 01 Verso Transcription

[Transcription of the main text in the central column:]

ex spíritu, spíritus est. Non miréris quia dixi tibi: opórtet vos nasci dénuo. Spíritus ubi vult spirat, et vocem ejus audis, sed nescis unde véniat, aut quo vadat: sic est omnis qui natus est ex spíritu. Respóndit Nicodémus, et dixit ei: Quómodo possunt hæc fíeri? Respóndit Jesus, et dixit ei: Tu es magíster in Ísraël, et hæc ignóras? amen, amen dico tibi, quia quod scimus lóquimur, et quod vídimus testámur, et testimónium nostrum non accípitis. Si terréna dixi vobis, et non créditis: quómodo, si díxero vobis cæléstia, credétis? Et nemo ascéndit

+ Denison Leaf 01 Verso Translation

[John 3:6-13]

...of the Spirit, is spirit. 7 Wonder not, that I said to thee, you must be born again. 8 The Spirit breatheth where he will; and thou hearest his voice, but thou knowest not whence he cometh, and whither he goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. 9 Nicodemus answered, and said to him: How can these things be done? 10 Jesus answered, and said to him: Art thou a master in Israel, and knowest not these things? 11 Amen, amen I say to thee, that we speak what we know, and we testify what we have seen, and you receive not our testimony. 12 If I have spoken to you earthly things, and you believe not; how will you believe, if I shall speak to you heavenly things? 13 And no man hath ascended...


For more information, contact Dr. Fred Porcheddu.